Tulsi Gabbard Placed on TSA Terror Watchlist, Hawaii Lawmakers Demand Explanation

Former Hawaii congresswoman and Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard has been placed on TSA’s “Quiet Skies” terror watchlist and Hawaii lawmakers are demanding an explanation.

The Details: Gabbard reportedly learned she was on the list when whistleblowing Federal Air Marshals told Uncover DC in early August. Last week, Gabbard told Matt Taibbi (Center bias) that her boarding passes have been earmarked and she’s been subject to intense searches, including thorough searches of personal belongings and screening by explosive detection dogs. 

Angered Lawmakers: On Sunday, several Republican representatives from Hawaii sent a joint letter to TSA demanding it “immediately withdraw her name from the Quiet Skies program and/or provide full public transparency of the TSA's reasons for maligning her name and reputation.”

For Context: Gabbard served as a Democratic congresswoman in Hawaii from 2011 to 2021. In 2022 she switched to an Independent. Gabbard has ostensibly shifted away from the left and been critical of the Biden Administration in recent years. Per Taibbi’s report, the day before she learned she was on the watchlist, she appeared on Fox News’ (Right bias) Ingraham Angle TV program where she criticized the “proxy war” in Ukraine.

How The Media Covered It: The story was covered mostly by the right last week when Gabbard learned she was on the list and spoke to Taibbi. Most of the larger outlets on the right did not cover the story, though Fox News interviewed Gabbard a few times on TV. Local Hawaii outlets covered the reaction from Hawaiian lawmakers. AllSides did not find coverage from the left.